Gender Portrayal Guidelines

When considering consumer complaints about advertising, Consumer Response Councils will be encouraged to refer to the principles
expressed in the Gender Portrayal Guidelines with respect to the representation of women and men in advertisements.

Fast Facts

Stereotyping Guidelines were originally developed by the CRTC Task Force in Sex-role Stereotyping in the Broadcast Media in 1981

In 1981, Advertising Standards Canada (then the Canadian Advertising Foundation) took over the administration of the guidelines, on behalf of the industry, and extended their purview to all Canadian paid media

The Stereotyping Guidelines were revised in 1987.

Renamed the Gender Portrayal Guidelines and revised in 1993

Interpretation Guide

1. Caution should be taken to ensure that the overall impression of an ad does not violate the spirit of gender
equality even though the individual elements of the ad may not violate any particular guideline.

2. While the Guidelines pertain to both women and men, some clauses are particularly directed to the portrayal
of women. Men and women are not at equal risk of being negatively portrayed and these Guidelines recognize that fact.

3. Humour, works of art and historical settings can all be positive elements in advertising. However, these
techniques should not serve as an excuse to stereotype women or men or to portray behaviour which is not acceptable today.

4. The Consumer Response Councils may consider the nature of the media used when assessments are made.
Sensitivity should be demonstrated in choosing media vehicles for certain product categories, such as intimate or personal products.

Gender Portrayal Guidelines

1. Authority
Advertising should strive to provide an equal representation of women and men in roles of authority both for the characters
within the actual advertising scenario and when representing the advertiser through announcers, voice-overs, experts and
on-camera authorities.

2. Decision-Making
Women and men should be portrayed equally as single decision-makers for all purchases including big-ticket items. Where
joint decision-making is reflected, men and women should be portrayed as equal participants in the decision-making
process whether in the workplace or at home.

3. Sexuality
Advertising should avoid the inappropriate use or exploitation of sexuality of both women and men.

4. Violence
Neither sex should be portrayed as exerting domination over the other by means of overt or implied threats, or actual force.

5. Diversity
Advertising should portray both women and men in the full spectrum of diversity and as equally competent in a wide
range of activities both inside and outside the home.